rockgremlin
07-29-2009, 02:17 PM
On Pioneer Day I spent the better part of the morning musing about where to go to celebrate the holiday. With temps in the 100's in Moab, I decided a wet canyon was in order. Mill canyon would be too crowded, and Pleaides sounded fun, but I was alone so I figured I'd drive around the corner to Professor Creek.
I'd like to point out that the approach to the upper part of Professor SUCKS!! It's not the rim-walking I envisioned. Much worse than that - it's hiking down into a dry sandy wash, back up the other side, and repeat about 10 times. In the early afternoon with temps in the 100's it's a recipe for heatstroke. Thankfully I packed along a bunch of Gatorade.
After the drop in you forget about all of the heartache of the approach hike as you wade from pool to pool in the clear cool creek. It's a really great way to spend a hot day in Moab - especially if you make the drop in before noon.
Kelsey points out in his write-up of Professor Creek that the big waterfall at the end of the technical upper section is a "rappel or handline down." I would strongly recommend against a handline. If you go without a harness expecting to handline you could be in trouble - its a legit 20 foot rappel, in water. From the looks of the anchor, it didn't appear as if anyone had done the canyon anytime in the recent past. I reset the sling from the boulder anchor about 20 feet from the drop and left a new rapid link.
Enjoy the pix.
I'd like to point out that the approach to the upper part of Professor SUCKS!! It's not the rim-walking I envisioned. Much worse than that - it's hiking down into a dry sandy wash, back up the other side, and repeat about 10 times. In the early afternoon with temps in the 100's it's a recipe for heatstroke. Thankfully I packed along a bunch of Gatorade.
After the drop in you forget about all of the heartache of the approach hike as you wade from pool to pool in the clear cool creek. It's a really great way to spend a hot day in Moab - especially if you make the drop in before noon.
Kelsey points out in his write-up of Professor Creek that the big waterfall at the end of the technical upper section is a "rappel or handline down." I would strongly recommend against a handline. If you go without a harness expecting to handline you could be in trouble - its a legit 20 foot rappel, in water. From the looks of the anchor, it didn't appear as if anyone had done the canyon anytime in the recent past. I reset the sling from the boulder anchor about 20 feet from the drop and left a new rapid link.
Enjoy the pix.